London Korean Film Festival kicks off 17th edition

The world’s longest-running festival dedicated to Korean cinema, the London Korean Film Festival (LKFF), has opened in London. Running from 3-17 November 2022 in cinema venues across the capital, LKFF boasts the biggest programme dedicated to Korean cinema outside the country itself.

The Festival’s 2022 programme includes critically acclaimed films, exciting new talent, Korean box-office hits, the latest K-Horror films, powerful female filmmakers and boundary-pushing documentaries. The exciting line-up includes 35+ films across strands including Cinema Now, Special Focus, After Dark: K-Horror, Indie Talents, Women’s Voices, Documentary, Shorts and Artist Video.

Kim Han-min’s follow up to The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014), the naval warfare blockbuster that remains the most successful Korean film of all time, Hansan: Rising Dragon closes the festival on 17th November at Regent St Cinema. The gala screening is followed by a Q&A with Kim Han-min. The prequel returns to the legendary exploits of Joseon Era admiral Yi Sun-sin and, teeming with white knuckle tension, steers us through an impeccably realised and epic David-vs-Goliath struggle out in the open sea. The Admiral: Roaring Currents also features as a Special Screening earlier in the programme.

As part of the LKFF collaboration with the V&A exhibition Hallyu! The Korean Wave, Choi Dong-hoon’s crime caper The Thieves features in the special screening programme. One of the region’s largest co-productions with a fantastic Korean and Hong Kong ensemble cast, including Squid Games’ Lee Jung-jae, and a gripping high impact caper story, The Thieves is one of the biggest grossing films in Korea’s box office history. The special screening is followed by a Q&A with Choi Dong-hoon and a reception at the V&A.

Among the Special screenings is Kore-eda Hirokazu’s award-winning Broker – one of the year’s most highly acclaimed films. The whimsical and beautifully crafted film played in competition at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and won Song Kang-ho (Parasite, The Host) a Best Actor award at Cannes – making history as the first Korean actor to do so. The screening is followed by a Q&A with the film’s translator Darcy Paquet.

For the full programme, visit www.koreanfilm.co.uk